Community gardening
About
Community gardening in Rochester is about more than growing plants — it's about growing community.
These gardens transform vacant lots into vibrant, productive spaces that promote health, equity, and connection. From annual seed and plant shares to long-term garden permits and local partnerships, Rochester is committed to empowering residents to cultivate fresh food, build communities, and create greener neighborhoods.
Why garden?
Community Gardens offer many benefits to individuals and families as well as build resiliency and equity within a neighborhood or city.
Environmental benefits include reduced heat island effect, decreased stormwater runoff, natural habitats for wildlife, and beautification of blighted areas. Personal development impacts include skill building for youth, increased social interaction and sense of belonging, community building, and gardening as rehabilitation or therapy.
From a public health perspective, community gardens promote increased physical activity, consumption of fresh food, improved diet, and positive impacts to mental health. Food sovereignty is an important aspect of community gardens, empowering people to gain access to fresh foods right in their community, to grow culturally relevant foods, and to grow foods that may otherwise be too expensive to purchase.
The City of Rochester supports transforming vacant lots into community gardens. Whether you are an inexperienced gardener or a true green thumb, the City has free resources and associations with privately-run organizations to help you transform a vacant lot into a beautiful and bountiful garden.
For questions regarding gardening on a City-owned vacant lot, please email GardenPermits@CityofRochester.Gov
Community garden events
Annual Seed Share
Each year will be preparing (and sharing) an abundance of seed for the Rochester Urban Agriculture Conference and Seed Swap. This is a great opportunity to meet other local gardens, while also gathering seeds for spring! All events are open to the public, beginner and experienced gardeners alike are invited to join!
Dates for 2026 Seed Shares TBD
Rochester Urban Agriculture Conference
The Rochester Urban Agriculture Conference, hosted by the Rochester Urban Agriculture Working Group/UAWG is an annual spring event that features guest speakers, a seed swap, interactive workshops in English and Spanish and packed with opportunities to learn and connect with other local gardeners!
Date for 2026 Conference TBD
Annual Plant Share
Our Annual Plant Share is held in May at the Rochester Public Market. With support from local non-profit organizations, we give away thousands of plants to help gardeners get their gardens started and help them be productive and successful!
For more information, contact Stephanie Benway at Stephanie.Benway@CityofRochester.gov
2025 Plant Share: Friday, May 16, 6-7:30 p.m.
Learn more: 2025 Plant Share at the Public Market
Helpful tips and resources
City operational support of community gardens
The City of Rochester is committed to supporting community gardens by providing technical advice and gardening supplies as resources are available.
The Rochester Community Plant Share and Seed Swap take place every spring. Both events are open to the public, with community gardeners and neighborhood groups that hold a City garden permit or steward a neighborhood street mall, etc. receiving two to three flats of free annuals.
Local resources
- Rochester Urban Agriculture Working Group (UAWG) brings together Rochester’s urban agriculture leaders to identify and address issues and challenges facing community gardens and urban farms throughout the city. The UAWG consists of representatives from community gardens, not-for-profit agencies, urban farms, government agencies, universities, community associations, and community members. Each year the UAWG sponsors a community garden conference to provide on-going education and coalition building among the community gardeners in the City of Rochester. Contact Mallory Hohl for more information.
- For soil testing, garden pest identification, and general garden information, the Monroe County Cornell Cooperative Extension is very helpful and their website has volumes of information. Check out their classes on all aspects of horticulture and food preservation. Master Gardeners can be reached by emailing the Gardening Helpline or by calling 585-753-2555.
- Taproot Collective offers community gardens a wide range of services and programs, including Consultation & Design, Garden Installation & Infrastructure, Materials Distributions, Training & Education, and Admin & Organizing support. To get started or learn more, reach out to their Garden Support Coordinator, Steph Rawleigh, at steph@taprootcollective.org.
- Blocks in Bloom is a beautification program established by Cornell Cooperative Extension-Monroe County for lower-resourced neighborhoods; a minimum of six homes must be pulled in to participate. For information, email Ashly Piedmont at Cornell Cooperative Extension.
- For tools, the SouthEast Area Coalition (SEAC) operates a Tool Shed at 1255 University Ave. For more information email SEAC or call 585-271-TOOL (8665).
- The Rochester Central Library and City Branch Libraries offer gardening books and periodicals. Gardening programs are sometimes offered seasonally. For more information about our gardening programs, visit the Rochester Public Library Program Calendar.
NYS support of community gardens
State law defines community gardens as “public or private lands upon which residents of the state have the opportunity to garden on lands which they do not individually own.”
The NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets supports community gardens through their Community Gardens Program, which was “created to support the thousands of New Yorkers who are building greener, healthier cities through community gardens, school gardens and educational farms.”
The mission of this program is to help develop and sustain community gardens in New York by leveraging resources across state agencies.
Getting started
Starting and operating a community garden is an exciting and a challenging task.
In addition to needing sufficient sunlight and access to water, a successful garden requires commitment of neighborhood leadership and volunteers willing to work in the garden. Here are a few tips and resources to help you get started.
Helpful planning tips
- Ensure any growing beds or in ground plantings are located in areas of your vacant lot that get at least 6-8 hours of sunlight. If your garden lot is shaded, consider growing shade loving plants.
- Leave plenty of room between beds and planting areas so that you can get materials in and out of the garden. Consider the space you will need to maneuver a wheelbarrow, host group workdays, and accept bulk materials delivery with a large truck.
- Get on-site design consultation from Taproot Collective’s Garden Support Coordinator, Steph Rawleigh. You can reach Steph at steph@taprootcollective.org.
- Construct your raised beds from food safe materials. Some materials, such as treated wood and cheap plastics will leech chemicals into your soil.
- Improve water use at your garden and reduce the need to water frequently by employing water saving techniques such as inter-planting, proper spacing, mulching and building soil structure.
- Attend the City’s annual community seed and plant sharing events – these free events are a great way to meet other gardeners and receive free seeds and plants.
- Grow native flowering plants to attract pollinating insects. Gardens grow best when there are plenty of pollinators around!
- Practice safe gardening by wearing gloves to protect your hands and prevent exposure to any soil contaminants.
- Gardens are most successful when they have a community of support. Before starting a garden, consider volunteering with an existing community garden in your neighborhood, or asking your friends and neighbors to get involved.
